Getting a Jump Start

Being one of the Norge Ski Club younger members only serves to make Mike Glasder’s career that much more impressive. The 21-year old ski jump champion can already include being medaled at the Junior Olympics to his impressive skiing resume.

After graduating high school, Glasder moved out of state and began practicing two times a day five to six days a week, readying himself for a stellar jumping career. A member of the Norge Ski Club of Fox River grove, IL since the age of five, Glaser has consistently displayed the iron-will and dedication necessary to becoming a world champion. To read more about Mike Glaser’s career visit: Jump Start

Spring 2010 Midwest Skier Magazine

The spring 2010 edition of Midwest Skier magazine has been released, with updates on top ski & snowboard clubs throughout the Midwest, plus great destination articles on worldwide ski & snowboard destinations. Don’t miss the article about potential Olympian ski jumper Mike Glasder.

Read the entire edition in digital page flip format.

Blind Skiiers Tackle the Slopes in Park City

The American Blind Skiing Foundation (ABSF) matches blind and  visually impaired skiers with sighted sited guides.  This year they took to the slopes for thrilling downhill ski in Park City Utah.  Read more about the trip and other upcoming ABSF events here.

Click anywhere on the article below to open up a full-screen size article in page-flip format.  If you’re having trouble viewing the page flip, click here.

CMSC Europe Trip to Target Sölden in Austria’s Tyrolean Alps

By Bill Gleason

Located approximately half way between Innsbruck and St. Anton, high in the mountains of the Ötztal Valley, the longest side valley off the main Inn Valley, you will find Sölden. Highly favored by the Europeans, but largely unknown by Americans, Sölden is Austria’s largest developed area of glacier skiing.

With reliable snow cover, two glaciers, three peaks above 10,000 feet and 60% snowmaking, good skiing is guaranteed. It is a big resort with a vertical drop of over 6,000 feet. You’ll find an extensive network of slopes for the adventuresome intermediate, plus numerous slopes for the beginner and expert (not the same slopes). Also, we intend to ski one day at the neighboring ski resort of Obergurgl/Hochgurgl just up the valley.

There are numerous mountain huts for lunches and breaks for morning coffee and afternoon tea, all in magnificent settings.
For the non-skier, or those who wish to take some days off from skiing for sightseeing, Innsbruck is a short transfer and train ride away. Options for these side trips include a visit to the old mountaineering village of Vent or hot thermal spa at Langenfeld.

Sölden is also famous for its après ski parties and nightlife. However, this is just one of the many reasons to go on CMSC’s European Trip this year. Here are a few more reasons:
1. Two ski resorts, Sölden and Obergurgl/Hochgurgl in one ski trip.
2. High elevation and 60% of slopes with snowmaking equipment guarantee snow.
3. The “Big 3.”. (You’ll have to go to know!)
4. The “Big 3 Rallye.” (Ditto!)
5. The mountain huts.
6. The après ski.
7. The nightlife. (If you can handle it!)
8. Night skiing. (Ditto!)
9. The Rodelbahn. (What’s a Rodel?)
10. Most people have never heard of Sölden and nobody you know has ever been there!

Crested Butte

By Randy Mink

Crested Butte Mountain Resort is moving forward with improvement projects for the 2008-2009 winter season after experiencing its snowiest winter on record last season, with a total of 421 inches of snow and an unprecedented 100-inch base on closing day. New this winter are increased airline service and facility upgrades.

American Airlines will add direct service from Chicago to complement its current Dallas daily service, and United will expand service with three flights daily from Denver, connecting to hundreds of flights worldwide.

After months of research and development, Crested Butte has a new brand positioning expressed in the tagline “Inspire your Passion.” The promise of “inspiring your passion for adventure” and its implications will be seen resort-wide. Beginning with a new marketing and advertising campaign, the brand will also be reflected in various areas of the resort, from signage to employee uniforms.

The kids ski school will see the greatest physical transformation. The new Kids Base Camp program will engage kids through exploration and adventure on and off the mountain. From a new entrance to remodeled kid-friendly bathrooms and play areas, the space will be completely revamped.

The Treasury Center building in the base area will be redesigned to improve a number of guest services. The Crested Butte Ski and Snowboard Rental Shop will be moved to a slope-side location. The rental shop and a new retail store will include top-of-the line rental skis and snowboards.

The rental shop’s former location will be transformed into a “Pizza Zone.” Fresh, pizza, beverages and snacks will be available in the lower level of the Treasury Center to eat on the run or to sit and enjoy. The Outpost building in the base area will be redesigned and opened as a day lodge.

Also new this winter will be a central ski valet and overnight ski, snowboard and boot valet service. The service is free to all hotel guests and to others for a nightly fee and will feature ski-in ski-out access. The ski valet service pampers hotel guests from lobby check-in to hotel check-out with seamless handling of ski and snowboard equipment.

The Lodge at Mountaineer Square, Elevation Hotel & Spa and the Grand Lodge were recently accepted into the prestigious Preferred Hotels group. Elevation Hotel will complete a $25-million remodel that will include all 260 luxury rooms, the spa and fitness center and new Atmosphere Restaurant & Bar.

Snow Igloos, Crested Butte’s fun addition to the mountain experience, will sprout up around the resort for après-ski cocktails and adventure play areas for the kids. The solid snow structures will be at Kids Base Camp and mid-mountain outside the Ice Bar Restaurant.
On-mountain improvements will include expanded terrain off the Headwall lift into the Teocalli bowl area in what is known as Teo-2 and Teo-2.5, adding expert terrain to the mix. Crested Butte’s commitment to providing world-class terrain park and pipe facilities continues with new features in the DC Terrain Park and the addition of a new intermediate terrain park.
Contact: (800) 810-7669; skicb.com.

Killington Resort

By Andrew Horn

Vermont’s Killington Resort is the largest ski and snowboard resort in Eastern North America and celebrates its 50th birthday this December. Serving as many as 17,000 skiers a day, the resort has 150 trails and 25 lifts across seven mountain peaks. The main peak, Killington Peak, is the second highest in Vermont at 4,241 feet and has the second greatest vertical drop (3,050 feet) in the East.

With an average annual snowfall of 250 inches and a skiable area of 1,215 acres, the resort has become a central destination for skiers. Killington’s 70 miles of diverse terrain offer skiers and riders of all ability levels a choice of wide-open courses, narrow New England runs, moguls, steeps and 13 tree skiing areas. Terrain parks at Bear Mountain provide freeskiers and riders opportunities for jibbing and jumping, including The Stash and a 430-foot- long, Olympic-size Superpipe with 22-foot walls.

The resort has continuously grown over the years and will expand even more with a series of improvements costing $8.4 million. Such upgrades include the new Skye Peak Express, ski trails, efficiency upgrades to the world’s most extensive snowmaking system and expanded environmental programs.

Skye Peak Express replaces Skye Peak Quad, reducing ride time from 14 minutes to less than five, allowing more access to Bear Mountain and cruising trails such as Skyeburt, Cruise Control and Needle’s Eye. One of only four in the world, The Stash is an all-natural terrain park with 34 features, including tree jibs, road jumps and log slides. The new Magic Carpet replaces the F-10 Poma lift, providing first-time skiers with a more pleasant uphill experience. Trails will be reconfigured, ensuring uninterrupted skiing and riding. Improvements to the snowmaking system increase efficiency and production while taking steps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and become increasingly environmentally friendly.

There also are numerous off-mountain activities in which visitors can engage, including dog sledding, cross country skiing, sleigh rides, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and ice skating. Summer options include an 18-hole championship golf course, Kona Mountain Bike Park with more than 45 miles of trails and Pico Mountain Adventure Center with alpine slides, climbing walls and miniature golf. Offering more than 100 restaurants and bars and shopping options, Killington is one of the top resorts in the Northeast for entertainment and skiing.

While Snowshed, Rams Head and Sunrise Mountain are mainly for beginners, Skye Peak and Snowdon Mountain provide a variety of terrain and trails that are suitable for a wide range of abilities. Bear Mountain has a very steep double black diamond mogul run, Devil’s Fiddle, and a superpipe. Killington Peak has numerous double black diamond trails in addition to a few easier connecting trails. Pico Mountain is located on a separate mountain away from the rest of the resort, but work is being done to connect the mountain to the resort with lifts and trails.

There are approximately 120 inns, lodges and condos at Killington. Killington Peak’s summit has an indoor restaurant, while the Peak Restaurant is serviced by a gondola lift, allowing non-skiers to dine with the added cost of a ride fee.

Contact: 800-621-6867, killington.com.

New & Noteworthy: East

Maine

Sugarloaf Mountain Ski Resort in Maine’s Carrabassett Valley is investing $5 million in increasing snowmaking output and efficiency and improving the base area appeal. A significant portion of the $5 million will go to upgrading the snowmaking system, growing Sugarloaf’s water pumping capacity by nearly 25 percent and adding efficient, environmentally-friendly fan guns. Additional improvements include new mountain signage, new lift and ski patrol cabins and base lodge features. Contact: 800-843-5623, sugarloaf.com

New Hampshire

Mount Washington Resort in New Hampshire is undergoing extensive renovations to bring this historic resort into the future. Plans include restoring The Donald Ross Mount Washington Golf Course, adding 15,000 square feet of meeting space and constructing a 25,000 square-foot spa. Rated one of the “Top 10 Resorts Your Kids Will Love” by SKI Magazine, Mount Washington Resort offers the most ski and snowboard terrain in New Hampshire in addition to one of the most extensive cross country ski networks in New England. Contact: 800-314-1752, mountwashingtonresort.com.

The New England Ski Museum in Franconia Notch State Park tells the history of skiing through artifacts and vintage films shown continuously in the theater. A display on alpine skis follows their development from a pair of primitive wooden slats with leather toe straps. Located next to Cannon Mountain Tramway, the museum is one of only four USSA-recognized museums in the U.S. and the only one in the East. Contact: 603-823-7177, skimuseum.org.

New York

Lake Placid, the site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, offers several attractions that recall the glory of the Games held in the Adirondacks. The Olympic Center, with four operating rinks for skating and hockey, has the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Museum. One arena is named for Olympic coach Herb Brooks, who led the unheralded 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to its miraculous defeat of the Soviet Union and ultimately a gold medal. Also at the center, a virtual reality experience simulates a bobsled ride from the driver’s point of view, alpine skiing, ice hockey as the goalie and ski jumping from a 12-meter tower.

The actual tower can be seen during a visit to the Olympic Jumping Complex, where an observation deck accessible by elevator or chairlift affords a sky-high perspective on the art of the ski jump. You might see the nation’s finest take to the air during Nordic jumping competitions throughout the summer and winter.

The Olympic Sports Complex at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, a winter sports haven, offers tours, bobsled rides and a chance to test your marksmanship skills with .22 rifles. The cross country ski area offers more than 32 miles of groomed trails. Contact: orda.org.

Vermont

Okemo Mountain Resort is creating an array of innovations. New trails add eight acres to the resort. One of the new trails measures 2,600 feet and has a vertical drop of 850 feet. Okemo is updating its snowmaking system, making them more efficient and lessens energy consumption. New loading carpets reduce lift-line lengths, minimize starts and stops, reduce ride time and improve overall lift capacity. Contact: 800-786-5366, okemo.com.

Ski Brule

By Jennifer Wessner

Named the No.1 Midwestern resort and No.1 family resort by OnTheSnow.com, Ski Brule is a favorite resort among skiers and riders of all ages. Located in Michigan’s Iron County, Brule is a six-hour drive from the Chicago suburbs. Ski Brule has continued its tradition of being “the first to open, the last to close” for over 20 years. The average season is 164 days with the slopes closing every year in mid-April.
Ski Brule has 17 trails and 11 lifts over 150 ski-able acres. The elevation of the mountain is 500 feet. The longest groomed trails at Brule are Maple Syrup and Homestead trails; both trails are a mile long.

The runs are spread evenly between the different skill levels. Long, mild greens lie on both sides of the mountain allowing beginners many opportunities for practice. Advanced skiers can test their abilities on Double Doodle, the mountain’s double black diamond. Rapids and Snowshoe Terrain area is a 30-acre terrain park with rails, spines, whales, gaps, fun boxes and kickers. Bambi Playground, a new addition for the 2008 ski season, is a beginner terrain park with its own rails and boxes. Night skiing is available on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Families are a top priority at Ski Brule. Kids age 9 and under stay and ski for free. Ski Brule also offers daily children’s classes at Gentle Ben, the kids-only starter area. SKIwee (skier) and MINIride (snowboarder) classes teach fundamentals including walking, sliding, and riding the rope tow. Each class lasts three hours (on and off the snow), with opportunities for the complete beginner as well as the more advanced skier. Brule Bear Cubs is a more advanced class for children who are already chairlift riders. A fun alternative for the whole family is the tubing park on Whitewater trail. Any first-time skiers or riders can take lessons for free on selected days of the week. Free lessons include lift ticket and rentals.

Located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Brule features over 200 miles of snowmobile trails and 33 kilometers of snowshoe and cross country ski trails. The wooded terrain of the Brule River Valley offers beginner, intermediate and advanced trails for cross country skiers. Nordic skis and snowshoes are available to rent. Snowmobilers can easily access the vast trail systems of Northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan and explore the area for hours or even days.

Accommodations are located at the base of the mountain in Ski Brule Village. It has many chalets and condos that sleep up to 12 people. Pioneer Lodge Condos offer studio and one-bedroom condos with panoramic views of the mountains.

In the summer, Ski Brule ski slopes turn into biking and hiking trails. The area has many rivers and lakes perfect for fly-fishing, kayaking, canoeing and tubing. Ski Brule rents tubes, canoes and rafts. A summer favorite is Brule Sporting Clays, a half-mile course with over 50 shooting fields. Guns, ammo, instruction and food are available at the clubhouse. Less than an hour away, visitors can access Iron County’s golf courses, casinos, shops and restaurants.

The 2009-2010 ski season will see new additions and renovations across the mountain. Brule plans to increase snowmaking capacity by adding new water snowmaking lines, pumps and machines. Renovations are planned on Brule Lodge and Rental Center. Brule will be adding to the existing Bambi Playground and will add a new terrain park called Woods Park.
Contact: 800-362-7853, skibrule.com.

Whiteface Mountain

By Jennifer Wessner

Whiteface Mountain is located in the Adirondack Mountains, nine miles from Lake Placid, N.Y. Host of the 1932 Olympic cross country ski events and the 1980 Winter Olympic Games, it has retained its large Olympic Complex and ski facilities. Whiteface also boasts the distinction of having the largest vertical drop (3,430 feet) in the Eastern United States.

With over 300 skiable acres, 80 runs and an elevation of 4,650 feet, Whiteface offers a first-class ski experience. The mountain has a good mixture of trails with 37 percent advanced, 43 percent intermediate and 20 percent beginner. The longest trail, Excelsior, is a three-and-a-half mile intermediate run. The Slides are billed as the only true double-black diamond area in the East and provide 35 acres of backcountry to explore. Eleven ski lifts, including a high-speed eight-passenger gondola, connect skiers and riders to the slopes.

Whiteface Mountain has non-traditional skiing experiences for the adrenaline junkie. The NASTAR race course at Whiteface is ranked 10th nationally and No. 1 in the East. Visitors of all ages and abilities are allowed access to the course for a minimal fee. The mountain has five terrain parks, including a kid’s park on the Bronze run. The main terrain park is 79 Railpark. The site of the 2007 World Cup Snowboard Competition, it has multiple lines, its own sound system, and a 450-foot, Zaugg-cut superpipe. The park also has its own rail line.

Families can take advantage of Whiteface’s many children’s programs. Kids Kampus Lodge at Easy Acres is a self-contained area featuring a rental shop, ski school, restaurant, nursery, triple chair and beginner terrain. The Play-n-Ski program (ages four to six) and Junior Adventure (ages seven to 12) are available every day. Whiteface Teen Experience is available during weekends and holidays.

A big draw at Whiteface is the 1980 Olympic Sports Complex. Visitors can take a ride on a bobsled with a professional driver and brakeman. The complex has 31 miles of trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. It has two skating rinks, including an outdoor speed-skating oval and a biathlon range.

This past season, Whiteface introduced Lookout Mountain, an area of the mountain that has not been in use since a previous resort closed in the 1950s. Whiteface redeveloped this land and added four runs and approximately four miles to its existing resort. The new runs are in the intermediate to expert range.

Visitors to Whiteface can find accommodations in Wilmington or Lake Placid. Wilmington has several family lodges, inns and motels to choose from. Lake Placid, a main hub for the area, has a bustling Main Street with many shops, restaurants, hotels and condos. Whiteface Lodge is an AAA Four-Diamond luxury resort in Lake Placid. The resort has a 94-suite hotel, spa, restaurant, movie theater and Canoe Club.
Contact: 518-946-2223, whiteface.com

Keystone Resort

By Jennifer Wessner

One of Vail Resorts’ five premier ski resorts, Keystone stretches seven miles along the Snake River, over three mountains, 3,128 vertical feet, 3,148 acres of terrain, and three villages with shops, bars, restaurants and accommodations.

Located near Dillon in Summit County, Colo., Keystone boasts 125 trails and 20 lifts, including two gondolas. Offering the longest ski day in Colorado from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., it also offers the largest night skiing operation with nine trails and a designated Night Park.

Whether you prefer green beginner runs, intermediate blues perfect for gentle carving, or adrenaline-inducing double black diamonds, the resort has runs for all levels of skiers. The three mountains that form Keystone are Dercum, North Peak and The Outback. Dercum Mountain is home to the Schoolmarm Trail, a gentle groomed 3.5-mile run perfect for beginners. North Peak offers long bump runs with varying levels of difficulty. The Outback, with an elevation of 11,980, is home to the North and South bowls. Opened in 2007, the Independence Bowl offers a “backcountry-light” experience with 300 acres of expert-only hiking and snowcat skiing.

Although traditionally a family resort, Keystone has been gathering a following of snowboarders and freestyle skiers with its two award-winning terrain parks. Ranked #1 by Transworld Snowboarding Magazine and #2 by Freeskier Magazine, Keystone’s A51 Terrain Park has two half-pipes, including a superpipe, rails, barrels, boxes and big air jumps. A51 Incubator, a second beginner-friendly park, is positioned directly across from the main park, giving everyone the opportunity to indulge their inner daredevil.

There is no shortage of kids programs at this family-friendly resort. Ripperoo & Friends Adventure Zones is a dedicated children’s park on Dercum Mountain, conveniently located near the beginner area off of the Schoolmarm Trail. Named for the children’s ski school mascot, the kids’ area has runs for both the complete beginner and intermediate skier and rider. Adventure Point, a tubing run located at the top of the River Run Gondola, has five lanes for guests of all ages. The resort even has a five-acre lake that is transformed every winter into the largest Zamboni-maintained outdoor skating rink in North America.

When the slopes close, the resort has numerous other attractions to keep visitors busy. The three villages around the base of the mountain have many shops and restaurants perfect for après-ski relaxation. In the summer, Keystone offers water sports in its small lake, mountain biking and hiking on over 60 miles of trails. There are two highly ranked golf courses on the grounds of the resort. Fly-fishing, horseback riding, and whitewater rafting are available as well.

Lodging options at the resort range from traditional hotel rooms to mountain base condos. The Keystone Lodge and Spa is a Four Diamond AAA-rated hotel with a 10,000-square-foot spa. For less traditional accommodations, visitors can stay at the Ski Tip Lodge, an old 1880s stagecoach stop that now is a bed & breakfast.

Keystone Ski Resort entered the 2008-2009 season with the state-of-the-art, eight-passenger River Run Gondola. In addition to replacing the old six-passenger gondola, the new gondola was moved into River Run Village, bringing skiers and snowboards closer to the mountain.
Contact: 800-344-8878, keystone.snow.com

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Schweitzer Mountain: The Crowning Glory of Northern Idaho

By
Rick Heinz
Skunk Hollow Ski and Snowboard Club
&
Barry Burke
Chicago Friars Ski and Bike Club

Tucked away near the tip of Idaho’s chimney lies a winter destination well known to Northwesterners but relatively unknown in the Midwest. The secret is now slipping out after Schweitzer Mountain Resort’s 2008 familiarization trips for ski club representatives. With 300 inches of annual snowfall, 82 trails, 2,900 acres, a 2,400-foot vertical drop, crowdless lift lines and beautiful views of Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced Pon-der-ay), Schweitzer Mountain Resort should be on every club’s to-do list.

The mountain can be best described as two bowls. It is advertised as having 20 percent beginner, 40 percent intermediate, 35 percent advanced and 5 percent expert-marked trails. Schweitzer’s design is very efficient, making it a cinch to get around. Five lifts service the mountain with an additional one when needed and a T-bar over the weekends. There are no slow green cat tracks, which would make most skiers and especially snowboarders happy. Beginners have their own area near the base and out of the way of faster traffic.

Schweitzer has an abundance of groomed runs. Crews groom over 30 miles of runs through the night. The morning grooming report shows which runs were groomed and how recently. For the courageous, they even groom a couple of black diamonds, and yes, they are really steep. Steep powder, open bowls and excellent trees round off the resort’s terrain. Tree skiing is so great that Skiing Magazine recently rated Schweitzer No. 3 for tree skiing. As if all of that isn’t enough, there are 2,000 additional acres of guided cat skiing through Selkirk Powder Company.

Recent Improvements
If you have been to Schweitzer before, you’ll notice some changes. Two high-speed quads now take the place of the original Chair 1 double. Night skiing is now available Fridays and Saturdays. The old lodge building was torn down to build the more spacious Lakeview Lodge, which is home to Taps Lounge and some food vendors. Not that long ago the Green Gables Lodge and attached restaurant were renovated and are now called the Selkirk Lodge and Chimney Rock Grill. Also not that old is the six-pack chair dubbed Stella on the backside of the mountain. You will think you are in the waiting line for Great America’s Viper roller coaster as you enter the only themed chairlift in the United States. This surge of changes and improvements reflects a promising future for Schweitzer.

Just a two-hour drive from Spokane International Airport, Schweitzer offers transportation shuttles to any one of its six slopeside or in-town properties. The Selkirk Lodge offers hotel-style rooms, some with a wet bar, microwave, refrigerator, kitchenette and jetted hot tub. Also in the village is White Pine Lodge, offering fully furnished, condominium-style units with full kitchens, living rooms and fireplaces. The only drawback for clubs may be that all of the beds at the White Pine are queen- or king-size. Both of these lodges have access to heated outdoor pools and hot tubs. Homes and condominiums are available outside of Schweitzer Village, but staying slopeside far outweighs staying in town.

Schweitzer Village may be small, but it has enough dining options to please all tastes. Chimney Rock Grill offers fresh regional cuisine from steaks to top-notch seafood. It serves breakfasts on weekends and can cater buffet- style meals to groups. A few small coffee shops scattered about sell pastries and other simple breakfasts. For lunch, the most popular place would be the cafeteria in the Lakeview Lodge, but there is also Pucci’s Pub and Alpenglow Deli & Ice Cream, both in White Pine Lodge. For a pizza fix, there is Thor’s Pizza and Sam’s Alley. Potatoes are the specialty in Idaho, so ski over to the back bowl and try a baked potato from The Outback. Enough options in the village make it easy for those not interested in providing their own food.

The town of Sandpoint will not disappoint. Only a half-hour drive from the resort’s village, it is a good place to go for pubs, restaurants and art studios. Sandpoint is also home to Coldwater Creek’s flagship store, complete with a cozy wine-tasting bar that can be rented out for large groups. Store hours in Sandpoint, a beach town at heart, do not cater well to après skiers and snowboarders, so if you really want to go shopping while on a ski trip, you’ll have to cut your time on the mountain early. For a local favorite, try Eichardt’s Pub for local brews, billiards, shuffleboard and darts. Don’t stay too long, or you’ll have second thoughts about returning home.

Schweitzer Mountain’s accommodating staff can put together a package for your group with the exception of airfare. Arrangements can be made for trips to town, buffet meals, activities and guided tours.

It is hard to come up with a reason for not going to Schweitzer. This is a mountain that can meet the needs of all skiers and snowboarders. Visit Schweitzer.com and see for yourself.

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